Thursday 24th July
19.00 - 21.00

Location:

The Library, Conway Hall WC1R 4RL

A night to celebrate the rights (and wrongs) of Roman women.

Join experts Honor Cargill-Martin, Kaarina Parker, and Dr Jess Venner for a discussion about ancient Rome and the magnificent, merciless women that exercised immense power while navigating numerous scandals.   

The evening will take place at Conway Hall’s Library, surrounded by archival manuscripts, books and artwork, and will include a panel discussion, Q + A, and book signing of Kaarina Parker’s debut novel Fulvia.

Spaces are limited so make sure you secure your spot as soon as possible.

Honor Cargill-Martin is a classicist, art historian, and writer from london. She is currently studying for a doctorate focusing on political sex scandals in Ancient Rome at Christ Church Oxford. Her first non-fiction book, a biography of the scandalous Ancient Roman empress Messalina was published in May 2023.

Kaarina Parker was born in Aotearoa, New Zealand. She has a BA(Hons) from the University of Melbourne in history and feminist film theory, and a Master of Creative Writing. She is passionate about telling the stories of people silenced by history, and has a particular love for the extraordinary women of the late Roman Republic. Kaarina also has an established career as a fashion model, and is a voice for diversity in the fashion industry in Australia and New Zealand. Fulvia is her first novel, with a sequel to follow.

Dr Jess Venner is an ancient historian and archaeologist, best known for bringing the Roman world to life through her vivid storytelling and deep expertise on Pompeii and Herculaneum. She holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham and is currently an Early Career Research Associate at the Institute of Classical Studies. In 2026, she will begin a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at the University of Oxford. In April 2026, her debut book, The Lost Voices of Pompeii, will be published in the UK, Commonwealth, North America, and Japan.